HBO has positioned itself as prestige television, changing the way TV storytelling is done. Being a premium cable network, it put quality storytelling at the forefront, with shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and more. The boundaries they pushed are why we have shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad today.
HBO has expanded on its flagship legacy shows with not just spinoff series and sequel series, but also movies that have been worthy successors. Shows like The Sopranos and Sex and the City have gotten movie extensions, with the latter even getting a sequel. Here are all the HBO TV shows’ spinoff movies, ranked.
6. Sex and the City 2
The cast of Sex and the City 2 | Credits: HBO
The romantic comedy show Sex and the City got the whole world decoding whether they were a Carrie or a Samantha. While we will look at the first movie higher in the list, Sex and the City 2 sees the four leads reunite after years at a friend’s wedding. Unlike the first movie, however, the sequel was severely panned.
Many criticized the bloated runtime and the overall plot. It also received major flak for its depiction of the Middle East, and many accused the movie of being racist (via The Guardian). Sex and the City 2 is a black mark on a legendary show. Its response led to a canceled third movie and several years of franchise limbo before returning with And Just Like That…
5. Entourage
The cast of Entourage | Credits: HBO
The Hollywood satire following the entourage of a successful movie star was irreverent, funny, and topical, making it a classic HBO show (of course, it was also deeply sexist and misogynistic). The success of Entourage led to a feature film, which was decent but felt more like an extended episode.
Following Vincent Chase during his directorial debut, which has gone seriously over budget, the jokes sometimes just don’t land (it is a different era after all), and a story of behind-the-scenes Hollywood that celebrates the sleaze does not sit well in hindsight after the MeToo era.
4. The Many Saints of Newark
The Sopranos is not only one of HBO’s greatest shows but also one of TV’s greatest stories ever told. Living up to The Sopranos would be a mountain of a task, but creator David Chase and director Alan Taylor seemed to be up for the challenge. Armed with the late James Gandolfini’s son, Michael, as a young Tony, The Many Saints of Newark was released.
What resulted was a good movie and an idea that never really reached the quality of the flagship show. Similar to El Camino, the film was too contained, and the runtime was far less than what we are used to with a 6-season show. Still, it is an interesting story about Tony’s childhood and explains many psychological things about him.
3. Looking: The Movie
Jonathan Groff in Looking: The Movie | Credits: HBO
The cancellation of Looking after only two seasons was devastating to the fans, who launched a petition to continue the romantic comedy drama (via IB Times). Known for its incredible depiction of LGBTQ life in San Francisco, the Jonathan Groff-starrer became a sleeper hit and was beloved by a whole section of fans.
Looking: The Movie was released in 2016 and was a wonderfully intimate conclusion to the series. Groff, especially, brought great humanity to his character, Patrick Murray, and the fans were quite satisfied with the bittersweet ending of the story. This was a TV movie done right.
2. Sex and the City
The cast of Sex and the City | Credits: HBO
While the sequel was a major let-down and led to a franchise limbo for more than a decade, 2008’s Sex and the City was a worthy continuation of the series. While the movie still got criticisms for resembling an extended episode, it was a huge hit with the fans and earned $418 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).
1. Deadwood: The Movie
A still from Deadwood: The Movie | Credits: HBO
Ian McShane’s performance alone makes this spinoff movie on the HBO western Deadwood worth the wait. Releasing 13 years after the final season, The Movie was well-made, retaining several aspects that made the show so endearing to hardcore fans. Despite the cancellation after season 3, the fans demanded a continuation, and they got a worthy one.
RankMovieRotten Tomatoes (as of May 17, 2026)IMDb (as of May 17, 2026)1Deadwood: The MovieTomatometer – 98%Popcornmeter – 80%7.32Sex and the CityTomatometer – 49%Popcornmeter – 77%5.73Looking: The MovieTomatometer – 89%Popcornmeter – 81%7.54The Many Saints of NewarkTomatometer – 72%Popcornmeter – 59%6.25EntourageTomatometer – 32%Popcornmeter – 57%6.56Sex and the City 2Tomatometer – 16%Popcornmeter – 43%4.6
If you have questions about HBO’s TV movie spinoffs, refer to the FAQs below.
Which HBO follow-up movie is considered the best?
Most critics place Deadwood: The Movie at the top because it delivered meaningful closure while preserving the spirit of the original series.
Was Entourage successful?
Financially, yes. Critically, it received mixed reviews, though fans of the show generally enjoyed the reunion energy.
Why is Sex and the City 2 so divisive?
Many viewers felt the sequel prioritized extravagance and spectacle over authentic character development, making it feel disconnected from the original show’s emotional core.
Is Looking: The Movie worth watching without the series?
It helps to watch the series first, but the movie’s emotional storytelling and grounded performances still resonate on their own.
Did The Many Saints of Newark satisfy Sopranos fans?
Reactions were sharply divided. Some appreciated the expanded backstory, while others felt it lacked the complexity and depth of The Sopranos.
Which HBO spinoff movie is your favorite? Comment below.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
